Pass the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act

Plastic Pollution

The Surfrider Foundation is working with U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal to pass the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

Over the past year, Surfrider has worked closely with U.S. Senator Tom Udall (NM) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) to introduce bold federal legislation to tackle the plastic pollution crisis: The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. The Act creates a comprehensive policy aimed at banning certain plastic products, instituting a national bottle bill, putting a temporary moratorium on new plastic plants, requiring post-consumer recycled content in some products, and — most importantly — creating an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program that would hold producers responsible for the cost of recycling or disposal of their products.

The bills (H.R. 5845 and S. 3263) had 29 original co-sponsors in the House and 6 original co-sponsors in the Senate at introduction (please see updated list of co-sponsors below). Your help is needed to generate more support. You can take action in support of the bill by signing our action alert for the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

The Surfrider Foundation initially began working with Sen. Udall and Rep. Lowenthal soon after on developing the outline that eventually became their outline of bold federal legislation to tackle the plastic waste pollution crisis, which was issued in July 2019. The lawmakers sought input from stakeholders and planned to introduce comprehensive legislation that fall.

In August, Surfrider Foundation submitted a comment letter signed by 55 environmental and environmental justice organizations in support of the outline and continued to work closely with the lawmakers as they move forward with drafting and introducing the legislation in the fall.

The Act was introduced on February 11, 2020. Jennie Romer, Legal Associate at the Surfrider Foundation’s Plastic Pollution Initiative, spoke at the bill introduction rally. Jennie also wrote a subsequent blog post on plastics industry tactics, specifically comparing the BFFPPA to the RECOVER Act.

Plastic Pollution

Rise Above Plastics is designed to eliminate the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics.